The Portland daily press., 1887-12-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Engravings on Wood by members Of the
Society Of Wood Engravers, with an intro
duction and description by William NJ. Laf-
fan. is doubtless the best Of the productions
OF the kind that has made its appearance this
year. The plates number twenty-five in all,
of varying size, but mostly large. Twenty
three are from oil paintings. one from fres-
co by Gioto. and one from drawing by Mr..
Abbey The work is remarkable illustra-
tion of the high degree of perfection which
the art of engraving has reached in this
country. ANY attempt at criticism OF the
various specimens would be out Of place ex-
cept it came from connoisseur. The pub
lie will regard them as little short Of perfee-
ton A variety Of subjects are treated by
the engravers, and the work in every case is
admirably done. Figure pieces make up the
majority of the engrayings, but there are
number of landscapes. Each engraver was
free to make his own choice Of subject, and
it is to be presumed, that he selected the de-
partment in which he exc elled, so that these
engravings are undoubtedly the best posi-
BILE work of the authors Of them The work
is one that appeals so much to the eye that
anything but a general description Of 1t
would be useless To use a trite expression,
it must be seen to be appreciated. But it is
a book not to be glanced over hurriedly as
ordinary picture books are looked at, but to
be stndied long and carefully, if one would
comprehend all its beauties. The titles OF
the engravings with their authors are, The
Mystery Of Life, engraved from painting
by Carl Marr, by Victor Bernstrom; The
Quadroon Girl, engraved from painting by |
George Fuller, by w. b. Closson; The Lis |
teners, engraved from a painting by William |
NJ. Hunt, by the same engraver; Among the |
Old Poets and the Cobblers, engraved by |
John p. Davis; Lacing the Sandal, and In /
the Enemy's Country, by Frank French;
The Sibyl and A Difference, by f. S. King; /
A Morning, and The Flying Dutchman, by
Elbridge Kinsley; A Portrait, and Rent Day,
by G. Knell; I'm Perfectly Happy, by r. A.
Muller; The Three Marys, The Lady and
Horse, by c. A. Powell; Identity and A /
Waterfall by Moonlight, by S. G. Putnam;
Exchanging Confidence, by John Tinkey, |
One Day in June and Miles Standish's Chal-
lenge, engraved by f. III. Wellington. The |
New England Peddler and The Roadside, |
engraved by Henry Wolf. The letter press
by Mr.. Laffan gives an interesting account OF
the progress of wood engraving in this coun-
try with critical remarks upon the distin-
gushing features of the work of American
engravers. "The present work." says Mr..
Laffan, "has been prompted by creditable
and natural desire on the part Of the fore
most engravers of America to put forth
something, the responsibility for which
should begin and end with themselves. Each
wished to give expression to his own peculiar
bent after his own fashion, and to place him
self in the best possible light with work Of
his own choice, adapted to his taste and in
clination." The result is collection Of the |
most ambitious and important work of each
engraver, the value of which as specimens |
of what is possible in this dedartment of art |
can hardly be overestimated. New York: |
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring, |
Short & Harmony
The Divine Man. From the Nativity to |
the Temptation. By George Dana Board |
man. DR.. Boardman is well known through |
his theological works and in his position as
pastor of the First Baptist Church, Philadel-
phia. A profound scholar, devotional in |
spirit, sincere and enthusiastic believer in |
the doctrines Of his church in particular and |
old-time orthodoxy in general, he is yet COLI
siderate, forbearing and tolerant Of those
who differ from him in belief One is i'm
pressed in the present work with the earnest
ness of spirit which he brings to his subject,
and his manner is always fine and fair. To
evangelical believers this strong study of the
life Of Jesus will be most helpful and stimu-
-. h.w .In 80
very handsome volume, the frontispiece
being photogravure Of Jesus among the
Doctors in the Temple. New York: ID.
Appleton & Co.; Portland: Loring, Short q
Harmony
Family Living on $500 Year. A Daily
Reference-Book for Young and Inexperi-
enced Housewives. Nothing in this world
delights the heart Of housewife like new
cook book. One never has too many of
them, and even if one finds it practically inn
possible to achieve all the delicacies of the
season, delciously cooked for $500 year,
yet it is fascinating study to find out how
somebody thinks she can do 1t. Miss Cor
sons book is excellent and will do valuable
service in teaching economy to the inexperi-
enced, who ought to be wiser, but have yet
failed to find out for themselves how far
little, properly used, may be made to go.
The author provides for us a system, and
begs us to learn the entire plan, for other
wise we shall not practise it successfully.
(New York Harper & Brothers; Portland;
Loring, Short & Harmony
a Magnificent Plebeian. By Julia Magru-
der This is a bright and rather clever nov
ell by Southern woman, who is also the au-
thor Of Across the Chasm, published last
year. The principal characters in this story
are slightly overdrawn, the magnificent
plebeian" being rather too magnificent and
his sister Ruth and her child rather unneces-
sarily vulgar and common. In other words,
the high lights of the story are too high, and
the shadows singularly deep, so that the con.
trasts are too striking, while the coloring is
somewhat crude We do.not find the hero
inc, the arstocratic Miss Mayne, so enchant-
ing as did Mr.. Vivian Vernon, the hero,
whom she nevertheless marries in spite Of
himself. II is, however, pleasant, bright
story, and better than the average. New
York: Harper & Brothers; Portland: Lor-
ing Short q Harmony
Only Year and What it Brought. By
Jane Andrews. That this pretty little vol
ume is by the author of Seven Little Sisters
will be quite enough to recommend it to all
who remember that charming book. 1t was